Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 40: Masquerade

As Roy Conli once said, "The mind is the greatest weapon in the world."

Whether this weapon works in our favor or against us is completely dependent upon the individual who wields it.

Our minds can be manipulated and influenced by doubts, uncertainties, and fears which lurk in our subconscious. This can cause us to questions ourselves, the path we're on, and even our own intentions.

If we are true to ourselves, it becomes easier to regulate these self-directed deceptions.

But then begs the question: Are we true to ourselves, or do we live for the expectations of others?

Hope never possessed a true sense of self, always aiming to live up to impossible standards, protect everyone she surrounds herself with, and sticking to the life of secrecy which she has been forced to live in order to keep everyone she loves safe.

But, somehow in the midst of her contorted life, she was able to find a singular source of clarity, one person who made everything click in her mind, providing her with the sense of self she'd been searching to find her entire life—

Josie.

Hope hears a soft knock at her bedroom door. She came here to put on the dress from Lizzie and Caroline, and to give the Saltzman family some time alone before the guests started arriving. That was a little while ago, Hope has been sitting at the foot of her bed for several minutes now, sifting through the one and only family photo album she's ever had. Due to the alias she's lived behind, there wasn't ever much opportunity to take family portraits, but there are a few.

"Hope, are you decent? It's only me."

"You can come in Bex."

The door slowly opens as Rebekah steps into the room, closing the door behind her before finally looking up at her niece. And the sight she finds in front of her is enough to make her eyes well.

"Well, bloody hell, if you look anything like this at my wedding, none of the attention will be on me... Lizzie's alterations to that dress are truly remarkable."

Hope smiles as she stands up to stand in front of the full-length mirror. Rebekah stands a few feet behind her in awe. "Yeah, she did a great job. The dress was Caroline's. I wasn't sure if it would be appropriate for me to wear it, but she insisted."

Rebekah comes to a realization, "You don't know where she got it, do you?"
Hope shakes her head, looking to her aunt with a confused expression through their reflection.
Rebekah smiles warmly at her, "Hope, the dress was a gift to Caroline...from Niklaus."

Hope spins around on her heel, studying her aunt's expression for any sign of fallacy, but she finds none, "My father chose this dress?"

Rebekah gives her a slow nod in confirmation, "And it looks stunning on you, by the way."

Hope turns back around to study her reflection again. It seems like she's been doing that a lot lately, literally and figuratively, "Thank you, Bex."

Rebekah glances over to the bed, seeing the photo album lying there, "I see you've been doing some reminiscing. Are you sure you want to have this in your bedroom while Josie's here?" Rebekah picks it up, turning again to see Hope facing her direction once again. Hope's eyes suddenly appear bashful, and Rebekah makes the connection, "You plan to tell her tonight, your true identity."